The Unseen Hand of God in Our LivesНамуна

An Orphan Who Found Favor 

Esther chapter two starts with a despondent, lonely Xerxes who is “remembering” Vashti. Nearly four years had passed since Vashti was deposed. During that time, Ahasuerus had directed his ill-fated Greek campaign and came home in humiliation instead of honor.

In this situation, the stage is now set for the appearance of Esther and Mordecai.

Mordecai is from the lineage of Saul. This connection is significant, because in chapter 3, Haman is introduced as an Agagite. Saul lost his throne because he chose to spare the Amalekite King Agag (1 Sam. 15).

So Mordecai’s loyalty to the Jewish people supersedes that of King Saul, and Mordecai becomes representative of God’s redemptive presence among his people. This is again the unseen hand of God preparing the stage for the deliverance of His people.

The first time we hear about Esther, she is described as an orphan (Esther 2:7). The phrase “she found favor” occurs constantly in this chapter. The Hebrew word for favor is hesed. The Septuagint uses the Greek word charis, meaning grace. The grace of God was upon her both in the treatment given to her by Hegai (v.9) and everybody else (v.15), but also of the king (v.17)

This, indeed, was the unseen hand of God preparing her for the role ahead. Esther became queen in the winter of 479-478 B.C., four years after Vashti's deposition (v. 16).

There is a plot that is mentioned in verses 21-23. This may seem to be in passing, but this again is part of God’s unseen working as this incident is crucial to developments that take place later.

Was it mere coincidence that Mordecai was a public servant “at the King’s Gate” (Esth. 2:19) at this time when he heard of the plot? What if he had not been seated at the king's gate on this particular day? He would not have overheard the assassination plot. He would not have saved the king's life. The fact that Mordecai unraveled this plot was recorded in the king's chronicles as the one responsible for saving King Ahasuerus' life. All this was indeed divine providence. 

Absolutely nothing happens by chance. God is in the every detail of our life. This truth intertwined with the truth that God is good and seeks our good for us should encourage us in our faith and give us perseverance and hope.

Was it mere coincidence that Esther was “extremely good-looking” (v. 7)? Even a master chess player or a brilliant mathematician could not design or anticipate so many variables to determine the desired outcome. But a sovereign God can.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 21:1 “A king’s heart is like streams of water in the LORD’s hand. He directs it wherever He chooses.”

What events in your life may have seemed to you as lucky or coincidental at the time, but in hindsight you see that God was at work to put you in a particular place or relationship or to grow your character?  Thank God that He is at work in your life.

Quote: “There is no such thing as "chance," "luck", or "accident" in the Christian's journey through this world” –J.C.Ryle

Prayer:  Lord, help me to identify Your hand in the events that seemed coincidental at the time it happened and give You thanks. Amen